Build Log + Case Mod: Watermelon

[banana_havoc]

So, I figured I'd add another to the ranks of the PC Master Race. My daughter is turning in the next week, and has enjoyed playing Minecraft on my PC, so I decided to mark the occasion by collecting parts and modding a case for her. After her birthday we'll assemble it together. I figured I'd add a little build log for her machine too, seeing as I finally watercooled my own a little while back and I was getting anxious to start another mini project. I'll provide a link below to the PCpartpicker parts list, though I'll warn you much of it is hand-me-down parts, and it's not designed for earth-shattering performance. Just something for homework / 1080p gaming.

 

 

 

 

I already tore down most of the case, as you can tell... this paint job is going to be a tad bright... OK,  its borederline obnoxious. She's going to love it.

 

 

I also snagged a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate (2013) off Kijiji for super cheap, the font was going to be a bit much for a first grader to read, so I swapped the keycaps for my factory Corsair ones off my K70. I also happened to have an eVGA Torq X10 kicking around that I won off an online giveaway like 4 years ago. It should fit the bill!

 

[banana_havoc]

Primed for action!

 

 

[banana_havoc]

Not much to update today. Go the clear on the front intake + 5.25" bay covers last night and reassembled the covers just now after I rotated the case to finish spraying the white on the top of the interior better as well as the bottom. Hopefully tomorrow it will be dry so I can mask the interior and shoot the colour. Then another day, then Mr. SPAAAAAAAAWWWKLE, then clear. Eventually I'm going for pink / sparkle exterior and white interior/mesh.

 

[banana_havoc]

Not much to update aside from.......

 

 

COLOUR!

 

 

 

It is.. very... very... pink. Like.. Linus' Lambo Pink... Like if it were outside you could easily see it from space pink.

 

I'll likely hit it with another coat in the morning, and hopefully with the glitter before I head to work. Maybe clear at about midnight or so.

[banana_havoc]

Second coat was done this morning. Glitter is down. If you're thinking it's a bit loud, yup. It is. It's for a six year old.

[Bartholomew]

10 minutes ago, banana_havoc said:

Second coat was done this morning. Glitter is down. If you're thinking it's a bit loud, yup. It is. It's for a six year old.

Cant wait to see how this progresses  curious of how the interrior will be, not so much tech components but as for other things for possible decorating and lighting.

 

Going with glitter with the paintjob is original; i might actually consider that for a frontpanel mod ive been contemplating.

 

Thanks for sharing, keep us updated

 

[banana_havoc]

26 minutes ago, Bartholomew said:

Cant wait to see how this progresses  curious of how the interrior will be, not so much tech components but as for other things for possible decorating and lighting.

 

Going with glitter with the paintjob is original; i might actually consider that for a frontpanel mod ive been contemplating.

 

Thanks for sharing, keep us updated

 

It's the closest I can get to getting paint mixed or adding throw on metal flake. As long as you do light coats with it, as it's easy to overdo it with the glitter.

 

The interior isn't going to be too flashy, just white and maybe a matching pink PSU shroud when I get time. I also made a template for an acrylic back wall, but I'm not sure if I'm going to bother. We'll see. For now the lighting is just ambient from the white led fans that are going in. But I may get a cheap light strip later on. Thanks for the interest!

[banana_havoc]

Snapped a quick close up after clear coat. One more coat of clear tomorrow, than hopefully reassemble tomorrow or Friday night.

 

 

[Update - 2/27/20]

 

Just put down the last coat of clear, should be able to finish unmasking tomorrow and reassemble the case. Though I won't be updating again until my daughter and I can build it. Her birthday is Saturday, but the party is on Sunday so I'm not sure if we'll give it to her on Sat, and assemble it then or wait. We'll see. 

 

Two things I will note, if you're thinking about using this paint or something else similar, definitely start with a white primer base, you might be able to use a silver metallic as well to get a different look, but the colour is transparent, so whatever if beneath will show through. As well, it drys to a very matte finish, so I needed to use a gloss clear to bring out the luster, also to seal in the glitter. 

 

Also, maybe avoid the cheaper Rustoleum white primer, not sure if it was just because it was a cold can (maybe I'll try heating it up in a water bath next time), but it definitely did not spray very well. Just food for thought.

[banana_havoc]

[Update - 2/28/20]

 

Finally reassembled the case. Hopefully I'll update again with some build pics this weekend. For now.....

 

 

 

[banana_havoc]

From this...

 

 

 

To this...

 

 

 

[Bartholomew]

On 2/26/2020 at 8:12 PM, banana_havoc said:

The interior isn't going to be too flashy,

doesnt need to be flashy, but theres options for figurines, just a thought (when I saw the pink and glitter was imagining a barbie or so sitting on the gpu ).

 

Nice job, a very nice of you to go through these lengths to contribute to a 6yo happines!

 

[banana_havoc]

[Update - 3/15/20]

 

So with my shifts and people visiting we didn't have the time to get the system built immediately, but after work today we got the time to finish assembling it and get it running. Little girl is very happy with it, though she hasn't had the chance to play on it yet as I still needed to do the installs. but hopefully we'll get some time in tomorrow before I need to go to work.

 

 

 

 

 

For now it will live in the basement next to my rig, but we'll see what happens once I finally clear out the old shop in the basement and turn it into the office.

 

Also... the obligatory peel.

 

 

 

[banana_havoc]

[Update: 3/27/20]

 

Small revision, I upgraded the GPU in my rig, and passed down my customized GTX 970 to this machine after a cleaning and some new Arctic Silver 5. 

 

I realize the difference between these cards is negligible, but after the work I've done, and its one of the few parts I have from my original pc and this card deserves to be used. Not to mention its a bit of a beast (for Maxwell) for overclocking, which I'll probably play around with tonight when I can actually get her off Minecraft. Also, she decided to rename her PC, its now known as "Watermelon" due to the Razer Keyboard, and I matched the RGB on the eVGA Torq X10 mouse.

 

And for those interested in the final specs:

 

CPU - i7-4770

MB - Gigabyte GA-H85-D3H

RAM - 16GB Crucial DDR3L 1600mHz

GPU - MSI GTX 970 Gaming 4G

PSU - eVGA 750-G1

Fan Controller - Bitfenix Recon

SSD - Kingston A400 120gb SATA

HDD - 1 TB Toshiba 2.5" 5400 RPM

Case - Fractal Design Focus G

 

 

Thanks again for checking it out!